California, Texas See Record Increase in COVID-19, Arizona Takes Drastic Action

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – California and Texas hit record peaks in new COVID-19 infections on Monday, a Reuters count showed, as Los Angeles reported a “startling” one-day surge in the second-largest city in the United States. that placed him in over 100,000 cases.

Los Angeles has become a new epicenter in the pandemic as coronavirus cases and hospitalizations increase despite strict orders from California Governor Gavin Newsom that bars be closed and residents wear masks in nearly every area. public spaces.

“The alarming increase in cases, positivity rates, and hospitalizations indicates that we as a community must take immediate steps to curb the spread of COVID-19,” said Barbara Ferrer, director of public health for Los Angeles County, in a statement. . announcing the strong rise.

“Otherwise, we are moving rapidly to overwhelm our health system and see even more devastating disease and death,” said Ferrer.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced a “hard pause” over when movie theaters, theme parks and other entertainment venues can reopen. Los Angeles County is the largest movie market in the United States.

Los Angeles County said its beaches will be closed over the Independence Day weekend and that fireworks will be banned.

Statewide positive tests for COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the virus, rose at least 7,418 in California on Monday to nearly 223,000, the largest one-day increase since monitoring began. Los Angeles County, with a population of 10 million, has registered 100,000 cases.

California is among several U.S. states, including Florida, Texas, and Arizona, battling a new wave of infections as the nation emerges from weeks of repression from residents and businesses. COVID-19 infections in Texas increased by 6,545 on Monday to nearly 160,000, which also set a record for a one-day increase.

Nationwide, cases increased by more than 40,000, for the fourth time in the past five days.

ARIZONA HIT HARD

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey on Monday ordered bars, nightclubs, gyms, movie theaters and water parks to be closed for at least 30 days. Ducey also delayed the start of public schools until at least August 17.

“Our expectation is that next week our numbers will be worse,” Ducey said at a press conference in the afternoon. Vice President Mike Pence will travel to Phoenix on Wednesday to discuss efforts to combat the resurgence of the pandemic.

Texas and Florida ordered the closure of all their recently reopened bars on Friday.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said Monday that meals indoors will not resume Thursday as scheduled and will be postponed indefinitely.

In Kansas, Governor Laura Kelly imposed a statewide mandate that requires the use of masks in public spaces, which she said was necessary to prevent another closure.

The beaches in Florida’s Broward County and Palm Beach County will not open over the holiday weekend of July 3-5, officials said Sunday, a blow to residents hoping to celebrate Independence Day there. . Miami-Dade County has also announced the closure of beaches for the holiday weekend.

AMC (AMC.N), the largest cinema chain in the United States, said Monday it was delaying the reopening of its theaters to July 30 from July 15.

In June, 22 US states reported record increases in new cases, often multiple times, including Alaska, Arkansas, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, and Utah.

The city of Jacksonville, Florida, which hosted part of the Republican nomination convention in August, said on Twitter that it would require masks in public starting Monday.

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Monday that Trump “has no problem with the masks and does whatever his local jurisdiction requires.”

The New York Times reported Monday that 43% of deaths in the US from COVID-19 were related to nursing homes and long-term care facilities. The document cited its own monitoring database.